From 13 May, the Science and Industry Museum will welcome a critically acclaimed major exhibition exploring the work of world-renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado – Amazônia, with free tickets available now for its 12-week run.
This is his first UK exhibition of this scale outside London for over 20 years and the first to ever to come to Manchester. Amazônia celebrates the indigenous peoples and breath-taking landscapes of the Brazilian rainforest – through over 200 black and white images and interviews with indigenous leaders; accompanied by a specially commissioned immersive soundtrack from acclaimed French composer Jean-Michel Jarre, which brings to life the sounds of the rainforest.
For seven years Salgado worked in the Amazon with twelve different indigenous communities. The result is an incredible collection of powerful photographs that present Salgado’s vision of a forest that is approaching a crucial tipping point in the fight against climate change.
The exhibition was curated and designed by Lélia Wanick Salgado to convey a small part of the magic of the Amazon region and its native peoples in an intimate experience. Where visitors will be transported to the Amazon rainforest surrounded by Jean-Michel Jarre’s musical creation evoking the sounds of the forest around them – including the rustling of trees, the cries of animals, bird song and the roar of water tumbling from mountain peaks.
Described by the Daily Telegraph as ‘An awe-inspiring celebration of life on Earth’ – Amazônia offers the opportunity to see this unique environment through the lens of one of the most eminent photographers working today.
Journey through a forest of suspended photographs capturing the incredible vistas of the Amazon – delving into dramatic panoramas, sweeping aerial shots of immense waterfalls and stormy skies. Discover ‘flying rivers’, a natural phenomenon whereby trees transport large quantities of water vapour into the atmosphere, that create a cycle that supplies crucial water to the wider region.
Learn about the people who live in the rainforest. Structures resembling the indigenous housing, known as ocas, present intimate portraits and vivid images of the communities going about their daily lives, interspersed with video interviews with the indigenous leaders working to protect their ancestral lands.
Sebastião Salgado, said: ‘As a Brazilian, the Amazon with its incredible colours, rich textures and awe-inspiring vistas has always held a special place in my heart. Over the course of seven years travelling through the region I witnessed first-hand the damage over-consumption has had on its landscapes and people. I hope visitors to Amazônia will feel inspired by its beauty but also understand the urgent need for action to prevent this unique biodiversity being lost.’
Sally MacDonald, Director of the Science and Industry Museum, said: ‘We are so excited to welcome Amazônia to the Science and Industry Museum, and to bring the work of Sebastião Salgado to Manchester for the first time.
